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When Kyle Crick left Thursday's game with a strained oblique, Austin Fleet was there to take over for Class A Advanced San Jose.

Fleet (2-0) came on in the third inning and took the Giants through to the sixth, tossing four perfect frames and striking out six to lead San Jose to a 5-1 win over Inland Empire.

Crick, San Francisco's No. 1 prospect, left the game after allowing a hit and two walks while striking out three in two scoreless frames. Giants vice president and assistant general manager Bobby Evans said in a statement he would be reevaluated Friday.

Fleet, meanwhile, picked up the slack and took charge of a Giants bullpen that wound up being responsible for seven innings to ensure the win. Josh Osich allowed a run on two hits in two frames and Hunter Strickland scattered two hits in a scoreless ninth.

"It's huge anytime a starter goes down that early. You really need somebody to step up and give you a lot of quality innings," said Giants manager Andy Skeels. "After a long travel day, you're getting off the bus, and I thought it was a great effort. That was something we really needed, a huge effort that Mr. Fleet gave us."

Fleet, a 16th-round pick in the 2010 Draft, spent last season with Double-A Richmond, registering a 3.83 ERA in 56 1/3 innings. He struck out 54 and walked 21.

said he knew he could turn to Fleet, a reliable long man out of the 'pen.

"Mr. Fleet spent time in Double-A last year, has the experience, understands that he has to stretch the game for us and get us deep into our bullpen. [It's important] that you have somebody who has game awareness and has some presence about him and understands what needs to be done. He just did a fantastic job for us."

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Crick was making his third start of the year. The 49th overall selection in the 2011 Draft became the fastest-rising San Francisco prospect last year with a breakout season for Class A Augusta. The 20-year-old went 7-6 with a 2.51 ERA in 111 1/3 innings, striking out 128 and walking 67.